New Help And Hope Centers

Road Trip To San Fernando del Apure

Oct 292011

I am currently under doctors orders to take it easy. A trip to San Fernando in Apure state almost took my voice from me. Really bad since I have to tell the Andean Aid story and generate support here as well as in the United states and elsewhere. The thirteen hour ride in an air conditioned car and a night freezing in an air conditioned room took their toll. But, I am feeling much better at this point.

The trip to San Fernando was fascinating. I had never been to the great plains of Venezuela (Los Llanos) before. It is a wonderland of exotic birds and animals. I saw birds of every color and size. And it is hot!

San Fernando gave me the opportunity to tell about Andean Aid to several influential Evangelical Christian leaders. They were very interested in bringing our ministry there. José Nieves was very supportive and was delighted that I had served at Christiansen academy. We talked about his time of service at Tama-Tama in Amazonas state and the similarities in our observations at both schools. He was astonished that I had visited Taama-Tama and it gave us an immediate bond.

Pastor Teodulo Araujo pastored in Venezuela for more than forty four years. He was happy to hear that a North American loved his people and was providing such as service as Andean Aid does. He told me of his time in San Cristobal and I found he was associated with OVICE there. This man knew John Christiansen and knows my friend Norman Chugg.

On our return trip we stopped at a number of villages along the way. We had the marvelous treat of a fried fish breakfast at a fishing village along the river. The fish went from boat to frying pan in very short order and was delicious served with avocado and fried yucca. I met the Jimenez family there. It was great to talk to them about our Help and Hope Centers.

At our stop in Naranjales in the state of Tachira I met Pastor Henry Castro. He is senior pastor of both the Cristo La Unica Esperanza in Naranjales and the church in El Nula in Apure state. Pastor Castro would like a Help and Hope Center in both locations. The facilities are excellent and he has a dedicated staff and congregation member to teach. The Naranjales church feeds seventy poor children breakfast each day. I’ve very excited about this new opportunity.

Preparations

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Oct 142011

Nine days. That’s how much time I have before boarding a plane for South America once again. Wednesday I received the last of my immunizations and this Sunday I begin the anti-malarial regimen. Last minute arrangements are being made in Colombia and Venezuela – flights and accommodations along the way. Packing begins soon. I’m always afraid I will forget something important. Not a big deal here where almost anything can be replaced but in the third world there is no replacing a crucial item. And there is always the butterflies about the possibility of a connection gone wrong.

The agenda is full. A couple days ago I had to make the painful decision to eliminate a stop to a new city where our services may be needed. It caused some disappointment. I’m disappointed, but you can only do so much. The conference in the jungle is taking a big chunk of the trip. I’m looking forward to the Grand Opening of our new school Colegio Privado Juan Christiansen. Getting together with the board of our civil association Una Sonrisa Para Todos is always enjoyable. They always give me a dose of enthusiasm. It will be exciting to meet the board of our new NGO (Non Government Organization) in Colombia. We will be expanding our ministry in Colombia as well as in Venezuela. Then there will meetings with the pastors in communities waiting for one of our Help and Hope Centers. Hopefully I can provide encouragement to them. I also have to ask for their patience. How I wish we had the resources to open all of these Centers now.

Full Itinerary for Andean Aid

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Sep 262011

I will be heading to Venezuela and Colombia soon. The itinerary includes three days of hanging (quite literally in a hammock) with five hundred people from more than twenty Indigenous Tribes of Venezuela, a grand opening of our new school and a meeting with the board of directors of our new NGO in Colombia. I will be also meeting new friends in a new city in Colombia to see if Andean Aid can be a help to children and churches in small communities there. Over thirty communities are currently waiting for a Help and Hope Center so I will be encouraging them to remain patient as we find the contributors necessary to make their Centers a reality. Perhaps you would like to be part of this exciting opportunity.

Going to Kansas City...

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Apr 042011

I’m in Kansas City attending the Head Start Association National Convention. My hope is that I can make some valuable contacts to expand our network. I also plan to make progress on my book.

University Visit

New Help and Hope Centers, Reading and Writing Program, School No Responses »

Feb 142011

Last Thursday Andean Aid President Wayne Cramer, Una Sonrisa Para Todos Director Gaby Andrade and Professor Aliro Gregorio Ruiz Castillo paid a visit to the Chancellor of UPEL University in Rubio. We outlined the success of our Reading and Writing Program which utilizes student teachers from the university. These students have an array of projects they can select to meet the community service requirement for their degree. The Chancellor stated that reading and writing are the building blocks for a child’s success in school – a stance that we surely agree with. He also said that our program was the very best project a student teacher could select and he would like us to expand the project to more poor communities. Professor Aliro expressed concern that teaching reading and writing was viewed as too basic and unglamorous for many students. The Chancellor then asked if Andean Aid could provide photographs, video and ideas to present the importance of the project. We left friends and like minded.

After our time with the Chancellor we visited Janett in the information office where we were interviewed for an upcoming article in the university magazine coming out next month. This magazine will be distributed to all nine UPEL University sites throughout Venezuela. So, the journey continues. Step by step God is laying the foundation of Andean Aid’s ministry in Venezuela and Colombia.

Collegio Privado Juan Christiansen

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Feb 062011

In this photo Wayne Cramer is being handed the official document to operate a private Christian school in the state of Tachira, Venezuela. Then name of the school is Collegio Privado Juan Christiansen (The John Christian School) which will be operated in Rubio, Venezuela. This document also gives us the exclusive right to use the name John Christiansen who was an early missionary to this area and who is highly esteemed here. It has been requested of us for some time to operate a school where parents could pay for the same educational services we provide for the poor. Proceeds from the school will help defray the cost of our other programs to those in need and allow us to expand our reach with new help and Hope Centers. This is a big step for us. The quick processing of this document reflects our good reputation in Tachira.